Category: Finding Aids

Finding Aids are guides to records at the National Archives.

Marking the 80th Anniversary of “an ever-famous American victory”: A Look at the US National Archive’s Battle of the Bulge Records

by ncurrie, posted in Finding Aids, Military Records, World War II

Today's post was written by Duncan Bare, archives technician at the National Archives in College Park. Winston S. Churchill famously described the Battle of the Bulge as “undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war and […] an ever-famous American victory.”[1]  As the German offensive commenced at around 5:30 am on December 16th, 1944, however, … Continue reading Marking the 80th Anniversary of “an ever-famous American victory”: A Look at the US National Archive’s Battle of the Bulge Records

Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

by ncurrie, posted in Finding Aids, Military Records, World War II

Today’s post is by Rachael Salyer, Subject Matter Expert for Modern Military Records at the National Archives in College Park, MD. RG 498 UD 584 Box 4021 Artwork File This winter marks the 80th anniversary of the German attack that began the Ardennes Offensive, or the Battle of the Bulge, during World War II. In … Continue reading Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion and the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) in World War II

by ncurrie, posted in African American History, Army, Finding Aids, Hollywood and Film, Women's History, World War II

Today’s post is by Rachael Salyer, Subject Matter Expert for Modern Military Records at the National Archives in College Park, MD. Photograph of WAC Officers Inspecting the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, Feb 15, 1945 (NAID 531249, Local ID: 111-SC-200791) In early 1945, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion became the only Women’s Army Corps … Continue reading The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion and the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) in World War II

80 Years Later: Documenting the Loss and Honoring the Sacrifices of D-Day

by ncurrie, posted in Finding Aids, World War II

Today's post was written by Rachael Salyer, archivist in the Textual Reference Branch at the National Archives at College Park, MD. Soldiers Presenting Arms on a Beachhead , Jun 12, 1944 (Local ID: 111-SC-320872; NAID 176888636) June 6, 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the start of the Allied invasion of Normandy during World … Continue reading 80 Years Later: Documenting the Loss and Honoring the Sacrifices of D-Day

“Blood and Determination and Then Victory” – Digitized Operations Reports Related to D-Day

by ncurrie, posted in Digitization Projects, Finding Aids, World War II

Today’s post is by Rachael Salyer, Archivist in the Textual Reference Branch at the National Archives in College Park, MD. End of First Phase Map of France, June 1944 (NAID 18558251) The Textual Reference Branch at the National Archives in College Park, MD (Archives II) has custody of numerous records that document U.S. Army operations … Continue reading “Blood and Determination and Then Victory” – Digitized Operations Reports Related to D-Day

Escape and Evasion Reports, World War II

by ncurrie, posted in Digitization Projects, Finding Aids, World War II

Today's post was written by Bob Nowatski, archivist in the Basic Processing and Textual Accessioning unit at the National Archives in College Park, MD. When we think of United States airmen in the European theater during World War II, we may picture rugged veterans who flew numerous missions, or soldiers who were killed in combat … Continue reading Escape and Evasion Reports, World War II

Department of State Central Files, 1789-1910 Available Online: An Omnibus

by ncurrie, posted in Digitization Projects, Finding Aids, Foreign Affairs Research Guides, State and Foreign Affairs

Over the past few years, the National Archives has digitized and made available online through the National Archives Catalog many important records of the Department of State.  The records consist largely of the various series of records that constitute the Department’s central files for the period from 1789 to 1910.  As those records went online, … Continue reading Department of State Central Files, 1789-1910 Available Online: An Omnibus

Department of State Records Relating to the Destruction of the USS MAINE

by ncurrie, posted in Finding Aids, Foreign Affairs Research Guides, Spanish-American War, State and Foreign Affairs

Last month, the National Archives joined the Naval History and Heritage Command and the Arlington National Cemetery in a commemoration of the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor 125 years ago (February 15, 1898).   Representatives of the three organizations discussed the historical context of the Maine’s visit to Cuba, the explosion and investigations, … Continue reading Department of State Records Relating to the Destruction of the USS MAINE

BENEATH HIS SHIRT SLEEVES: Evidence of Injury, Part II

by ncurrie, posted in Civil War, Digitization Projects, Finding Aids, Military Records

Tintype Images of Wounded Civil War Union Soldiers from Pension Application Files in the U.S. National Archives This is the second of two posts about personal tintype images of wounded soldiers in the Civil War Pension Application Files from the Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs (Record Group 15).  **Please note that the following … Continue reading BENEATH HIS SHIRT SLEEVES: Evidence of Injury, Part II

photo of man w/short hair and mustache, bare torso, right side turned toward camera to show amputated right arm at the shoulder, w/exposed bone

BENEATH HIS SHIRT SLEEVES: Evidence of Injury

by ncurrie, posted in African American History, Civil War, Digitization Projects, Finding Aids, Irish American History

Tintype Images of Wounded Civil War Union Soldiers from Pension Application Files in the U.S. National Archives **Please note that the following post contains graphic images that may be disturbing to some readers.** This is the first of two posts about personal tintype images of wounded soldiers in the Civil War Pension Application Files from … Continue reading BENEATH HIS SHIRT SLEEVES: Evidence of Injury